Fascinating Fridays

Hi everyone,

Happy Friday!  I was recently contacted by Noor Nahdi from Paperie Designs’ Studio.  Noor asked if she could interview me and showcase some of my work for “Fascinating Fridays”.  I was more than pleased and here is the link to the article.

It's time I get back to stamping.  I have been busy the last couple of days with designing some new sidebar images for my blog.  I would like to thank Karen and Michelle for all their help.

Have a great weekend! 

Memory Box Adore

I absolutely love the way this card turned out!  It might even be in my top 10 favorites.  I used the Friends 24-7 set to create the Damask background using Distressed Black Soot.

The main image from Memory Box was stamped in StazOn Black on Whisper White and colored with Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol.  The edges of both pieces were sponged with Basic Gray.

The bow was made from 5/8” Black Satin Ribbon using my Bow-Easy.  I thought the pewter heart charm would look pretty dangling from a piece of silver cording.

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Memory Box Adore Peony Collage, Friends 24-7

Paper:  Solar White Linen, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink:  Damask - Distressed Black Soot; Image - StazOn Black colored with Prismacolor Pencils; Sponging - Basic Gray
Accessories:  5/8" Black Satin Ribbon, Craft Essentials Metal Heart Charm, Silver Cording, Cuttlebug Jamara Embossing Folder, EK Success Acanthus Leaf Edge Punch, Bow-Easy, Gamsol 
Techniques:  Sponging

Bunnies Hoppin'

I finally found some time to post my Easter tablescape so please come in and have a seat.  I have added a chair for you ... see it on my left sidebar?

The bunnies are hoppin' starting with our candles from paraffin wax.  Aren’t they just adorable?  The centerpiece is a simple Clematis plant in shades of lavender and purple in a classic terra cotta pot.

I have started my place setting with a Lenox dinner plate in the “Eternal” pattern.

A rabbit and a pair of eggs are nestled among spring flowers on these decorative plates and bowls from Pottery Barn.  The plates are green and the bowls are yellow. 

The Easter bunny floral garden napkins feature a whimsical garden scene that compliments the dinnerware.  I find special linens make holiday meals even more memorable.  The napkin rings are brushed gold.

Flatware is Gorham in the “Golden Ribbon Edge” pattern.

The water goblets are Gorham “Rose Serenade”.  When you pour water into this elegant goblet, it's almost as if you're watering a beautiful flower!  Doesn’t the bowl look like a delicate bloom growing from a “bud” atop of a graceful stem?

I couldn’t resist adding this Lenox Easter egg salt & pepper set in soft pastels with 24 karat gold accents.

Now that we have finished dinner would you like some dessert?  We have carrot cake, white chocolate raspberry cheesecake, Strawberry Daiquiri cheesecake and an Easter cake with chocolate frosting.  Don't worry about the calories - it is Easter!

Oh look!  The Easter Bunny brought some candy too!  Please help yourself. 

The glass hen dish which is perfect for serving homemade confections is nested inside a Longaberger Easter basket. Color and Easter go together - the whitewash stain on these baskets lends a soft glow to the pink accent weaves and jelly bean liners. A purple bunny dish is perfect for some sweet treats!

I hope you have enjoyed my Easter tablescape.  I am joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday and Marty from A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday.  Thank you to our hostesses.

Resources:

Dinner Plates:  Lenox China “Eternal”
Salad Plates & Bowls:  Pottery Barn
Stemware:  Gorham “Rose Serenade” Goblets
Flatware:  Gorham “Golden Ribbon Edge” pattern
Napkins:  Pottery Barn Easter Bunny Floral Garden
Salt & Pepper Set:  Lenox China
Centerpiece:  Pottery Barn
Bunny Candles:  Pottery Barn
Easter Baskets & Glass Dishes:  Longaberger

Easter Blessings 2011

Springtime ... I find there is no other time of the year that renews my spirits and lifts me up quite like springtime.  The Easter story, along with the accompanying blooms and blossoms reminds me of the circle of life and of the hope that it promises.  Although spring officially started in March, here in the Northeast, we are finally seeing our first signs of it.  As the robins, mourning doves, chickadees and cardinals start to sing I can feel that spring is in the air.  The leaves of my daffodils have emerged and soon beautiful flowers will adorn them.

If you haven’t already, try to make a point to take notice of the first signs of spring and your appreciation of nature’s wonders will grow.  Remember, each day is a special gift.

Today I have an Easter card using The Gifts of Spring set by Stampin’ Up.  Time seemed to slip away from me and I ended up creating these at the last minute.  I always need to factor in a week for mailing.

I stamped the focal image on watercolor paper in StazOn Black then used a blender pen and the following ink colors - Creamy Caramel, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Apricot Appeal & Barely Banana.  I added a little sparkle to the butterflies with a lemon Spica pen.

The sentiment was inked with VersaMark then Groovy Guava and embossed with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.  The designer paper is from the Graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime pack.  I finished the card with some yellow pearls from Recollections and 3/8” Taffeta Ribbon in Kraft.

Wishing all of you a blessed Easter!

A close up of the bunnies.

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  The Gifts of Spring, Sprinkles, Happy Easter by A Muse

Paper:  Natural White Linen, Certainly Celery, Graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime Designer Paper, Watercolor 
Ink:  Image - StazOn Black; Bunnies - Creamy Caramel & Pretty in Pink Marker; Grass - Certainly Celery & Old Olive; Butterfly - Apricot Appeal & Barely Banana; Sentiment - Groovy Guava with VersaMark and Clear EP 
Accessories:  3/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Kraft, Recollections Pearls in Yellow, Lemon Spica Pen, Melon Spica Pen, Star Dust Stickles, Nesties Small Classic Squares #7, Large Classic Squares #7, Labels Ten #1, SU Oval Punch, Ticket Corner Punch 
Techniques:  Embossing, Blender Pen, Aqua Painter, Watercoloring

Sense of Time in Mother of Pearl

Some cards are just so much fun to create and this is one of them.  I started with a piece of Very Vanilla paper then inked the Memory Box Flourish stamp with VersaMark then Crumb Cake and embossed with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

To create the background, I placed a small amount of Metallic Pearl Acrylic Paint on a paint palette then bunched up a piece of Saran Wrap and dipped it into the Pearl Acrylic Paint.  I started tapping on my paper to transfer the paint leaving some areas uncovered.  I sponged Distressed Antique Linen with some Soft Suede around the edges.  This technique is called Faux Mother of Pearl and you can find the tutorial here on SCS.

Next, I cut a Spellbinders Classic Circle from Very Vanilla and stamped the clock in VersaMark with Basic Black and embossed it with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.  I then did the same technique on the background, but added Distressed Scattered Straw to the smaller circle of the clock face.  This circle was adhered to a Classic Scalloped Circle in Basic Black then I added two gold brads.

Since I didn’t want to cover up the pretty flourish I cut a small piece of 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Kraft and placed it diagonally in the corner.  I added a bow with gold cording to hang my Tim Holtz idea-ology Sprocket Gear.

I have taken several pictures so you can see the background.  I never thought this Sense of Time stamp set could look so elegant.

Thank you for stopping by and spending time with me.

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Sense of Time, Memory Box Vintage Scroll                                    
Paper:  Desert Storm, Basic Black, Very Vanilla                            
Ink:  Vintage Scroll - Crumb Cake with VersaMark and Clear EP, Background - Adirondack Acrylic Pearl Paint with Saran Wrap then sponged with Distressed Antique Linen; Clock - Basic Black with Clear EP; Inner Clock sponged with Distressed Scattered Straw; Sponging around edges - Soft Suede
Accessories:  3/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Kraft, American Crafts Medium Gold Brad, SU Gold Brad, Tim Holtz idea-ology Sprocket Gear in Antique Gold, Gold Cording, Large Classic Circles #6, Small Classic Circles #5, Edge Distresser, Bow-Easy 
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging, Faux Mother of Pearl

Timeless "Eternal"

Hello my friends, won't you please join me for a cup of tea?  Don't be shy, please come in and have some tea with me.  I'm linking with Sandi from Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea Time Tuesday, Susan from Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday, Marty from A Stroll Thru Life, and Katherine from Lady Katherine Tea Parlor.

I have brewed some Darjeeling tea for us and today's teacups are from Lenox.  This pattern is called "Eternal".  This classy pattern is made from ivory porcelain, and is trimmed with a wide band of striking gold.  Each plate is also accented with a thinner gold verge line.  The simple gold bands that encircle Lenox Eternal pieces are symbolic of the wedding band.  I love the elegance of this pattern - it is timeless!  I am sure you will see this set again.

I have paired these teacups with some beautiful rose linens. The flatware is Gorham in the Golden Ribbon Edge pattern and compliments the gold-accented dinnerware.

Perhaps you would like a fresh pizzelle with your cup of tea.  These Italian waffle cookies are delicious sprinkled with confectionery sugar.

The ivory candle holder is also from Lenox and is decorated with an intricately pierced design.  I love the way this votive glows and the accents of pure 24 karat gold gleam when the candle is lit.

Thank you for joining me today and to our hostesses Sandi, Susan, Marty and Katherine.

"While there's tea there's hope." ~ Arthur Wing

Resources:
Dinnerware:  Lenox "Eternal" China
Flatware:  Gorham "Golden Ribbon Edge" pattern
Placemats & Napkins:  The Country Trunk
Candle Holder:  Lenox Illuminations Versailles Pierced Urn Votive

ODBD Faith in Minuet

If you haven’t heard me say this before - I just love the Faith set by ODBD!  This card was created using Tim Holtz’s Baroque Die and Spellbinders Small Petite Ovals #4.  The sentiment was stamped in VersaMark with Close to Cocoa ink then embossed with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

I used the Vintage Vogue set for my flower with the Sizzix Flowers, Branches & Leaves Set.  I think it is a perfect match with the Minuet paper.

To finish the card I embellished it with Heat & Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds and a Basic Grey Opaline Pearl in Sky.

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Our Daily Bread Designs Faith, All a Flutter, Vintage Vogue

Paper:  Natural White Linen, Memory Box Minuet Designer Paper, Bordering Blue, Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Close to Cocoa, Bordering Blue, Ballet Blue, VersaMagic Tea Leaves, Distressed Antique Linen, VersaMark
Accessories:  Basic Grey Opaline Pearl in Sky, Heat & Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds, Tim Holtz Baroque Die, Nesties Small Petite Ovals #4, Sizzix Flowers, Branches & Leaves Set, Corner Rounder 
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging

Spring Cleaning

This is just a quick post in case you were wondering what I have been up to behind the scenes.  I decided a couple of weeks ago to tackle the storage area in my basement.  I have been sorting through items and making piles (keep, sell, and give to charity).

It is amazing the items that seem to have found their way down there which I had forgotten about.  One new discovery was a set of dishes - what a great find!  I brought them upstairs right away and decided after spending the winter months looking at the same decor it was time for a change.  So, I have been packing up my current dishes and reorganizing my kitchen cabinets.

I also found a beautiful set of flower pots which I have decorated with lavender and pink roses.  I think these pots will look nice in my sunroom amongst my house plants.  Oh, since I mentioned house plants does anyone know what type this one could be?  I have had it for several years and it blooms regularly. 

Here is a close up of the flower.

This past weekend was beautiful here in the Northeast so I was busy working in my flower gardens preparing them for mulch and raking the lawn.  If I haven't stopped by to visit your blog its not because I haven't been thinking about you all ... I just have been a little busy spring cleaning.

See you soon!

One Year Blog Anniversary Winner!

Hi everyone,

I hope you are enjoying your Saturday.  Now the news you've been waiting for!  The winning # for my blog anniversary candy is 10 - Gemma from Make, Do and Gem.

Congratulations Gemma, please email me your address using the link on my right sidebar and I will get these goodies in the mail to you.

A big thank you to each of you for being loyal followers and for taking the time to come visit me.  I love reading your comments and I do read each and every one of them!  When I started this blog a year ago I never imagined others would be interested in looking at my cards.  I am truly touched by everyone's generosity. 

Enjoy your weekend and we will be doing blog candy again in a few months.     

Just A Bicycle

I finally got the chance to make a little scene using this bicycle stamp from Hero Arts.  The oak branch is from Stampscapes.  As I was putting the card together I decided to add some rhinestones to the center of the spokes.  I thought it would add a cute touch - every once in a while I come up with a good idea ... lol!

Have a great day everyone!

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Hero Arts Bicycle, Stampscapes Sedge Filler & Oak Branch, SU Embrace Life 

Paper:  Spice, Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla
Ink:  StazOn Black, Distressed Antique Linen, Garden Green, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Rich Razzleberry with Clear EP 
Accessories:  Pink Spica Pen, Green Spica Pen, Kaiser Wine Rhinestones, Nesties Labels Seventeen
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging

Paris Notebook

Since I still had out my Bind-it-All machine I have another notebook to share with you.  I used Tim Holtz's On the Edge Brackets Die for the cover.  This little Paris book will be going in my laptop bag. 

Book Recipe:

Stamps:  Artistic Etchings, Carte Postale, Cavallini Paris Stamps

Paper:  Bazzill Chipboard, Grungeboard, K&Company Blossomwood Designer Paper, Oxford Ruled Index Cards   
Ink:  Buckaroo Blue, Distressed Black Soot, StazOn Stone Gray, Going Gray   
Accessories:  1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon in Marina Mist, Silver Cording, Vintage Key, Jolee's Boutique Metal Fleur di Lis Embellishment, On the Edge Brackets Die, Bind-it-All, 1/2" Antique Silver Owire   
Techniques:  Sponging